Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-08-25
HOUSEKEEPING.
Care Of Dish-Cloths.

The care of the household utensils should
be one of the housewives chief considera-
tions, for upon the cleanliness of these
depend in great measure the health and
comfort of the family. The Importance
of this subject cannot be too carefully
considered. There is one article used in
all houses that cannot be looked after too
closely. Many neat housewives, who pride
themselves upon the cleanliness of their
houses, pay too little attention to the care
of the dish and sink cloths. These women
are always particular in regard to their
dish towels, washing them every day after
wiping the dishes, which is an unnecessary
piece of work, for if the dishes are
washed clean the towels are usually only
damp, and need only be hung out in the
air to dry, and will be as sweet and clean
MS if they were washed, besides lasting
much longer. They seldom take much
pains with the dish and sink cloths. To
be sure, they are usually washed clean
after each meal, but they are not often
hung out in the air; they are too frequently
hung near or under the sink to dry. These
women would not think of leaving towels
or any other articles but these all punched
up on nail to dry, for their common
sense would teach them that the articles
would be ruined by this kind Of treat
ment; yet they mover think enough about
the dish and sink cloths to care whether
they are ruined or not. The very things
that of all the housekeeping articles should
be sweet and clean are too often left to
take care of themselves.
In an article published in a contempo-
rary a few days since on the uses of dis
carded white flannel underwear in the
household, the writer suggests. among
other things, that the housewife cut the
fannels in small squares, hem and use for
dish-cloths. Now, old flannel underwear
is an excellent thing in the house, and the
uses to which it can be put render it some-
thing to be desired by all housewives. For
cleaning cloths, sink-cloths, and many
other kinds of cloths there is nothing will
take its place, but as dish cloths it is a
failure. [ give the palm to old hannels
for oil cloths but dishcloths, but I will
draw the line at dish cloths. Just think
of it! Old flannel underwear for dish
| cloths! Deliver me from the housekeeper
who uses it, for she is usually one of the
kind that believes anything is good enough
for dish-cloth.
| Anything is not good enough for dish
cloth. Few things that have been used for
anything outside of dishes should be made
into this article. An old table, cloth cut
into squares and hemmed, or nm old napkin
that has outlived its use at table service,
/
glassware and the finer dishes, but for
everyday use, for all kinds of ware, there
| is nothing like square of nice, fine
crash. 1t will outlast any number of old
| tablecloths and napkins, and if properly
cared for is the incest and cleanest kind OF
q cloth. All women know that if good
crash is washed properly that the older il
gets the winter it grows, andif not properly
washed the older it is the darker it is sure
to be. There is no kind of goods will
| show the effects of washing SO clearly as {
good quality of crash. Cloths washed ou
hurriedly, or simply wrung out of the
water and hung to dry on nail beside Oh
under the sink, no matter what theil
quality, will very soon be unfit for use
The common expression, "As black as {
dish cloth, must certainly apply to CLOTH
of this kind. There is no necessity fo
the dish-cloth being black any more thar
the towels. Have two squares of sof
crash, one for each week. Use one for ont
week, rinsing it out after each meal, hang
ing it in the air to dry, and when wnshda.
comes let it go into the family wash, ant
use the other for the next week, treating
be great deal Of care to give to dish
cloth, but she who practices it will no
soon give it up.
Old crash or old flannel makes goo'
sink-cloths, and should be treated the sam
MS dish cloths, with the exception of tn
family washing, which would hardly b
worth while giving them, as they shoult
be changed quito frequently, and the rims
ing and airing is all they need while the
last. Above all things, don't keep then
: about the sink while damp, for, according
TO the statement of noted physician
damp, ill-kept dish and sink-cloths are q
much to be feared MS forerunners of diph
theria, typhoid fever, etc., as is the com
mon cause usually assigned-imperfec
drainage.-Cor. American Cultirator.